Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

The series of enactments passed by the English Par- liament in the years 1535 to 1543, brought to a close the period of administrative confusion in Wales, and of the political rightlessness of the Welsh people. The effete Lordship Marcher system was swept away, and the Marches were divided into shires. Thus the long estab- lished two-fold division of Wales into the Principality and the Marches," finally disappeared. The whole land was made subject to English law and was granted full Parliamentary representation by county and borough members. In a word, Wales was completely incorporated with England and Welshmen were admitted to the full enjoyment of all the rights of English citizenship. By this statesmanlike settlement, Henry VIII. repaid his compatriots some part of the debt of gratitude laid upon his father on Bosworth Field and upon his house by the consistent loyalty of the Welsh. DAU DEIMLAD. Pan ddringwyf eto'r allt yn ysgafn-droed I fyny tua'r pentref sydd a'r ty Y'm ganed ynddo'n disgwyl fel erioed Am swn fy llais a sang fy nhroediad hy, Bydd y llawenydd gynt yn fyw yn Ham Fy nghalon wirion eto, a bydd Hi Yr hiraeth hyfryd na wnaeth siom na cham Ei rewi'n goglais ei meddalwch hi. Ond wrth ddynesu tua'r fan mi wn Yn burion cyn ei ddyfod ef y daw Rhyw drymder difwynhad o rywle'n bwn Anesmwyth arnaf, a rhagargoel braw I'm mynwes,­arswyd gweled ol tristad Ar rudd fy mam neu'n Hygad du fy nhad. II. Suddais i'r gwaelod isaf, am fod pwys Yr anghyfiawnder am fy ngwddf yn drwm, Ac yn nhywyllwch rhyw ddistawrwydd dwys Arhosaf heddyw fel petawn ynghlwm. Ym mhydew du'r Anobaith 'r wyf heb ias 0 ofid calon na chywilydd chwaith, Yn gwybod garwedd y cornelau cras, A hen gynefin a'r parwydydd llaith. Ac eto nid oes gwenwyn yn fy ngwaed, Ond rhyw farweidd-dra melys nid oes cri O'm genau'n galw am ddial fy sarhaed, Nac ofn Anobaith yn fy mynwes i Am fod mwynhad tu hwnt i'w gyrraedd ef, Ac uffern ddigon dofn i fod yn nef. But while extending political rights to Wales the Tudors inaugurated a policy designed to eradicate national differences, which eventually came near to extinguishing the social Nationality of the Welsh people. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes." In the formal legislation of the years 1535 to 1543, two provisions only proclaim this policy. The Welsh custom of Gavelkind, the basis of Welsh society, was abrogated in favour of the English law of Primogeniture. The Welsh language was proscribed in all official business, and no one who spoke Welsh habitually was to hold any office under the Crown. More insidious means proved more effective than these legislative enactments. They will be considered later. (To be continued). I. T. H. Parry-Williams. ON APPROACHING WINDERMERE. As pilgrims view at eve reflected fire From some dim quiv'ring temple of the East, When every breath of desert wind has ceased, And glistening minaret and dome draw nigher, So we too viewed that land whose peaks aspire Into a sky wherein the faint clouds float, Zephyr-blown as the scarf about her throat Who once awoke a gentle poet's lyre. For here on English ground a spirit grew Whom I had deemed Eryri alone could rear, Calm as Helvellyn's head, remote, a peer Of England's best ere even England knew, a Until a mountain shaped within the mere, And in the depths was seen heaven's deepest blue. Swansea. D. Vaughan Thomas. "DEBUSSY AND RAVEL." (Written on hearing their music played by Miss Margaret Montague). Strange webs of sound, mark'd by no common strain Of obvious mould whereto a foot may beat The measure heedlessly, but patterns meet For wizard fancies darting through the brain, Of shooting fountain sprays, or plashing rain In some old palace garden, when the air Is odorous with scent of roses fair, Or moonlit terrace haunted by Verlaine. Bold pioneers, explorers, masters, too Skill'd in designs of classic art to reach Perfection's symmetry, whereby you teach The message France once gave to you, — the True To Beauty must be wed,-and thus to each Fair Music pays the homage justly due. Swansea. D. Vaughan Thomas.